People don’t typically blame their furnaces when they feel sinus pressure. Unfortunately, your central heating system could be the culprit.
When the temperature drops, you turn on your heater and wait for it to get warm and cozy in your home. The last thing you want to do is start sneezing, blowing your nose, and coughing! However, many homeowners begin noticing these symptoms as soon as their heater begins working.
Unfortunately, your central heating system could be the culprit. People don’t typically blame their furnaces when they feel sinus pressure, especially during the colder seasons. Many assume they caught “that bug going around” or another type of illness. However, if you notice persistent symptoms this winter, your heating system may be affecting your indoor air quality, and it’s worth getting it checked out.
0 stars if I could. Bought a faulty (not to mention overpriced) surface igniter, called back five minutes later after installing, of course they didn’t stand behind their part. Go to Grainger instead. Same (working) part, half the price.
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From the phone to the completion of the job everyone is so polite and informative. I had Giovani as our representative and he was very informative and professional, and knew exactly what the problem was. Thanks so much.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind review, Frank! We appreciate you and your business.
I will always call Hoffmans for my air and heat needs. They were out to my daughters house that day and fixed it. It was right before the weekend storm with below zero temps the next day. They saved my daughter and grandbabies. I could never thank them more.
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear that we could help! Thank you for the kind review.
Snow and drifting snow covered intake and out take vents causing the furnace emergency to shut off furnace. Cleaned off the driftibg/ snow off roof and vents furnace works perfect now. Thank you and great job Nick.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review, Scott! We appreciate your support.
5 stars! Nick was here to fix my heater within 2 hours of my call. He explained the problem to me thoroughly and got the job done quickly & professionally. Thank you so much!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind review, Jennifer! Glad we could help.
Extremely thorough and educational. They do a wonderful job of explaining everything and making sure I was comfortable knowing how the systems worked in my house!
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review, Matthew! We appreciate your support.
I noticed a strange noise that I was concerned was linked to my furnace. I called Thomas Hoffman Heating & Cooling and Nick came right out. He was very thorough checking all components. Thankfully all checked out for us this visit. Definitely recommend Thomas Hoffman Heating & Cooling!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind review, Abby! We appreciate your business and look forward to servicing you in the future.
Thomas Hoffman is a wonderful company to work with. Techs are knowledgeable, personable & efficient.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Christine, for your kind words about our team; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear you had a positive experience!
Got a quote over the phone. Everything was explained thoroughly. Dakota, my technician arrived and on time, was very professional and knowledgeable. He didn’t try to upsell or change anything. He did a great job. We can already tell the difference since the ducts and vents were cleaned. Would recommend an use Hoffman again in the future.
Response from the owner:Happy to hear you had a pleasant experience using Thomas Hoffmann!
The technician, Ryan, was knowledgeable and helpful in identifying the issue with our mini split AC unit. They are the second company we called after issues with the first and will be using Hoffmann again.
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear your experience with Thomas Hoffmann was pleasant. Thank you for your kind review, & we look forward to working with you in the future!
woke up to a very cold house, called Thomas Hoffmann, they were able to come out a couple of hours later and get the issue resolved. Always trust them, they have always been quick to respond and get either the heating or ac issue fixed that day. Also a great price!!!! give them 10 stars if i could, Thank You JS
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind review, Jim. We are happy to hear that you had a positive experience working with Thomas Hoffmann!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Hank, for your wonderful feedback; we're glad you enjoyed the fast, friendly, and professional service, and we'll be sure to keep up the great work!
The technician Giovanni was excellent and on time very professional and efficient and knowledgeable of the project at hand ,gave great advice but most of all did great work 👏 thank you .
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear you had a great experience, Sam! Thank you for the review, and thank you for your business.
Your service technician was very professional and knowledgeable. And did not appear to try to give me bogus information. I truly appreciate his honesty because several other companies did not appear to be honest, obviously wasn’t honest, my gut feeling told me they were not honest and tried to get me to spend $10,000 for a problem that was much simpler to fix. I look forward to you servicing all my properties, and possibly those of the rest of my family.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words and great review! We appreciate your support.
Very prompt, communication was great, and the workers were very polite. I highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Lianne! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and appreciate your high recommendation.
Water heater repaired, appointment done the same day, effective, courteous
Response from the owner:Thank you, Leticia! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear that the water heater was repaired promptly and effectively. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
The service tech Giovanni did a fantastic job. Our gas fireplace is working like new again so we’re ready for the cold weather!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Mr, for your fantastic review! We're glad to hear Giovanni provided you with excellent service and professionalism. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If I could give 10 stars, I absolutely would.
Last night our furnace went out unexpectedly, and with three kids in the house, the temperature dropped fast. Giovanni went above and beyond in every way possible. Instead of charging me a late-night service fee, he simply asked, “Are you decently handy?” and offered to walk me through some troubleshooting steps to get our heat back on so my children wouldn’t have to sleep in the cold.
Not only did he guide me through the process, he even FaceTimed me and showed me exactly what to take apart, how to put it back together, and what signals to watch for. It felt like having a real technician standing right next to me the entire time. Thanks to him, our heat was restored within minutes.
In a world where true customer service is hard to come by, Giovanni is a rare find. It is a guaranteed fact that any future repairs, maintenance, and the new heater/AC system we’ll be needing this coming summer/fall will absolutely be done through him. His honesty, kindness, and expertise have earned our business for life.
Highly, highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jeff, for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear Giovanni was able to help you and your family during that tough situation. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we appreciate your trust in our services for the future!
My neighbor referred these guys to me when had water heater problem. Previous company told me I needed to replace it. Tom’s technician fixed it for less than $200. This was over 2 years ago and have been using their service ever since. They are very trustworthy.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Mary, for sharing your experience and for trusting us with your water heater issue; we're glad our technician could help and that you've continued to rely on our services!
I called this company earlier today because I was having a bunch of issues with my HVAC system. They were incredibly friendly and walked me through troubleshooting step by step over the phone. They didn’t even charge me for the call. Thanks to their honest advice, I was able to get things running smoothly again. Really grateful for their help and would definitely recommend them if you want straightforward and trustworthy service. Five stars all the way!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the glowing review, Hector! We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you in the future.
Nick did not set current time. — Monday Hoffmans Zach came to fix correct time. We DID NOT want a timed thermostat — we prefer to set temperatures manually
Response from the owner:Thank you, Pat, for your kind words about Giovanni; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that he made a positive impression.
Clear communication about arrival, service and costs.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Margaret, for your kind words! We appreciate your feedback on our clear communication and are glad you had a positive experience.
I will highly recommend this business for your air and heater repair. Prompt, knowledgeable and courteous service.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Judy, for your kind words and recommendation! We're glad to hear you were pleased with our prompt and courteous service.
Thomas Hoffman was very responsive to our after hours inquiry, even walked us through some trouble shooting over the phone. We provided pictures of the unit and they were able to quickly buy, schedule and install the part to keep our family warm!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ali! We're glad to hear that Thomas was responsive and helpful in getting everything sorted out for you and your family. Your feedback means a lot to us!
Can Your Furnace Actually Make You Sick?
Bacteria and viruses make us sick. However, dust, mold, mildew growth, and fungi can contribute to allergies. Many of the symptoms of seasonal illnesses are mimicked by the body’s response to breathing in these allergens. Dry air, caused by low humidity, dusty and dirty vents can all contribute to these problems.
Some of the symptoms you may experience this winter while you’re running your furnace may include:
Headaches
Sore throat
Coughing
Itchy nose & sneezing
Itchy eyes
Dry throat
Cracked lips
Dry skin
Nose bleeds
Central Heating Can Make Other Issues Worse
You may not typically experience allergies until you’re exposed to the allergens in your central heating system. However, for others who already deal with problems, their heating system could exacerbate their problems.
For instance, dry air, dust, and allergens can trigger coughing or shortness of breath if you’ve got asthma. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or other lung conditions, may be affected by the air coming out of their HVAC system.
Central heating can also irritate the nose, making sinus infections worse. It can also contribute to dehydration, headaches, or migraines if you’re prone to them.
Why Do I Get a Stuffy Nose When the Air Conditioner Is On?
There are several possible reasons why you may be getting a stuffy nose when your air conditioner is on. Here are the most common reasons.
Allergies to Dust, Pollen, Dust Mites
For people with allergies, a poorly maintained air conditioning unit can exacerbate their condition. Anything from dust mites, mold, pollen, or other allergens can circulate in the indoor air through a dirty air filter. That can lead to a stuffy nose, watery eyes, coughing, and even skin problems.
Replacing or cleaning your air filters as often as the producer recommends is necessary and may even need to be done more often if you live in a dusty area.
Temperature Differences Trigger a Runny Nose
Sometimes, a stuffy nose is simply caused by the difference between the indoor and the outdoor temperature. If the indoor air is much colder than the air outside, getting inside might be followed by a runny, stuffy nose. Some people react more than others to differences in temperature, but the effect should last only a few minutes. Anything more serious than that may be caused by something else.
There is not much you can do about getting a stuffy nose from the temperature differences, but it is relatively harmless.
The Air Conditioner Dries the Air too Much
Air conditioning acts as a dehumidifier, and your nose might get stuffy if the air is too dry. Other related symptoms are coughing, skin rashes, dry skin, and stingy eyes. If you suspect this might be the cause of your problems, get a hygrometer, a simple measuring instrument that indicates the relative humidity in the air. The Environmental Protection Agency advises keeping it in a range between 30 and 60%. If it’s lower than this, it may be a good idea to invest in an air humidifier.
You Are Breathing Recycled Air
Air conditioners circulate the outdoor air, process it through their filtering and cooling systems, and blow it back inside. Anything wrong with your duct system, air filters, or condenser unit can decrease the quality of your indoor air. If your stuffy nose doesn’t go away and the HVAC professional can’t identify an issue with your AC unit, you may want to consider investing in an air purifier.
Having a stuffy nose may not always be related to the air conditioner, so it’s important to make sure there are no underlying health issues, like a viral infection or some other allergy.
How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
For those with asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system, especially young children or the elderly, maintaining indoor air quality is of the utmost importance to overall health. Our expert indoor air quality technicians can install an air purification system in your air ducts.
In addition, your HVAC system needs to be maintained regularly, especially if you have allergies. At least once a year, you’re going to want to have your entire system maintained and your air quality checked. It would help if you also changed your filters every 1-3 months, depending on how many people and pets live in your home.
Certain kinds of mold are toxic to humans, even if you don’t suffer from allergies. You should always have your HVAC ducts tested for mold. Mold growth usually indicates a moisture problem, so a mold inspection can help you pinpoint more significant issues in your home, like water damage.
Indoor Air Quality – St. Louis HVAC
Allergies can substantially negatively impact your physical and mental health, so if you are suffering, don’t ignore them. One of the best things you can do to help your allergies is to maintain good indoor air quality, and your HVAC technician might be your best friend on this front.
At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC, we are a full-service residential heating and air conditioning company in St. Louis. With over 30 years of experience and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and provide maintenance for your home’s HVAC system.
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At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating, we pride ourselves on being a locally owned and operated HVAC company. With more than 30 years of experience and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and maintain your business or home’s HVAC system.
